Money Feels

In this episode of Money Feels, we break down the thing that makes most people's eyes glaze over: Canadian taxes. And actually make it make sense. Not just the numbers, but the feelings. The confusion, the resentment, the sneaking suspicion that you're being robbed. We're going there.
Alyssa and Bridget walk through every layer of the Canadian tax system, from federal income tax all the way down to the municipal mill rate, and tackle two of the most misunderstood — and politically charged — conversations happening in Canada right now: the myth that Canadians pay over 50% in taxes, and what Alberta separation would actually mean for your wallet.
This one is equal parts financial education and myth-busting. Because you deserve accurate information, not social media math.
In today's episode, we discuss:
What a progressive tax system actually means 
The four layers of Canadian taxation: federal, provincial, municipal, and GST/HST 
Why CPP and EI deductions aren't money disappearing
How Alberta compares to other provinces
The truth behind the "Canadians pay over 50% in taxes" claim
Why GST hits lower-income earners harder
What Alberta separation would actually mean
The credits and deductions most people leave on the table without realizing it
How to look at your own pay stub and actually understand where every dollar is going
Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

In this episode of Money Feels, we explore what AI actually is, and why it doesn't just change what technology can do… it can change how society functions, who holds power, and what the future of human work and life might look like.
Bridget sits down with Timo Ewalds, former Google DeepMind AI researcher and founder of Nexopia, to cut through the hype and fear around artificial intelligence. 
This conversation goes far beyond "AI is coming for your job." It's about how artificial intelligence intersects with consciousness, ethics, economics, and the environment — and why understanding it matters whether you're a tech insider or just someone trying to make sense of the world changing around you.
In today's episode, we discuss:
What AI actually is and why the definition matters more than most people think
The difference between AI, AGI, and ASI, and where we actually are on that spectrum
Why is sentience and consciousness so hard to define, even for researchers
How AI capabilities are growing exponentially and why that pace is difficult to comprehend
The societal implications of handing more decision-making power to machines
Why AI benefits individuals and society in very different, sometimes conflicting, ways
The environmental cost of data centers and AI infrastructure that rarely gets talked about
How job displacement from AI could reshape entire economies
Whether Universal Basic Income could be a realistic response to widespread automation
Why even experts at the frontier of AI disagree about where it's all heading
Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

In this episode of Money Feels, we explore what extreme wealth does to the human brain — and why money doesn’t just change what people can buy… it can change how people see themselves, others, and the world around them.
We unpack the psychology behind wealth, power, empathy, entitlement, and social disconnection, and discuss why the ultra-wealthy often begin to operate in completely different emotional and social realities than everyone else. We also explore how wealth can distort risk perception, reduce sensitivity to others’ suffering, and create environments where people slowly lose touch with everyday life.
This conversation goes far beyond “rich people are out of touch.” It’s about how money impacts the nervous system, identity, relationships, and even morality — and why capitalism often rewards traits like detachment, dominance, and self-interest.
In today’s episode, we discuss:
 How extreme wealth can psychologically distance people from others 
 The relationship between wealth, empathy, and entitlement 
 Why money changes risk-taking behaviour and decision-making 
 The “bubble effect” of wealth — and how rich people can slowly lose touch with everyday reality 
 Why some wealthy people genuinely believe they earned everything entirely on their own 
 The connection between power, status, and reduced emotional attunement 
 How capitalism rewards individualism, competition, and self-interest 
 Why wealth often creates insulation from consequences, discomfort, and vulnerability 
 The psychological difference between financial security and extreme accumulation 
 Why people with more money are not necessarily happier, calmer, or more connected 
 How shame, superiority, and fear can all coexist within wealth 
 Why many people simultaneously resent, idolize, and aspire toward extreme wealth 
Referenced in this episode:
What Does Extreme Wealth Do to the Brain? (New York Magazine): https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-does-extreme-wealth-do-to-the-brain.html
Speaking of Psychology: The psychology of wealth, empathy, and entitlement, with Paul Piff, PhD: https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/wealth-empathy
Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

In this episode of Money Feels, we explore the emotional, psychological, and financial reality behind shifting relationship dynamics — and why the traditional “trophy wife” model is quietly disappearing.
We unpack new data showing that wealthy men are no longer more likely to partner with significantly younger women, and what that reveals about money, power, desire, and changing gender roles. We also dive into the so-called “male loneliness epidemic,” and ask a deeper question: is this about rejection… or is it about the loss of a system where men were once centred and needed?
This conversation goes beyond dating trends. It’s about what happens when women gain financial independence, relationships become less transactional, and people are forced to confront who they are outside of roles like provider, caretaker, or “the one who gets chosen.”
In today’s episode, we discuss:
 Why the “trophy wife” dynamic is declining and what the data shows 
 How women earning more is reshaping partner selection 
 The difference between being needed vs desired in relationships 
 Why high-earning women are not simply “reversing the script” 
 How education, social circles, and opportunity influence partners
 The connection between this data and the “male loneliness epidemic” 
 Why loneliness may be more about friendship, identity, and emotional development than dating alone 
 The decentering of men — what it means, and why it feels so uncomfortable for some people 
 How capitalism shaped masculinity around provision, and what happens when that’s no longer enough 
 The psychology of desire — and how many women were never taught they were allowed to have preferences 
Referenced in this episode:
 Trophy wives are out of fashion (The Economist)
 https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2026/03/10/trophy-wives-are-out-of-fashion?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=18798097116&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18804755252&gbraid=0AAAAADBuq3LGsPBoeDKxz77EFwF0dD2q0

 Archived version of the article (if paywalled)
 https://archive.ph/xMZl3#selection-3095.0-3105.1

 Instagram post referenced in discussion
 https://www.instagram.com/p/DXMz0zuFJRb/?igsh=cm4xYXNvcGswZDQ3
Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

In this episode of Money Feels, we explore the emotional, psychological, and financial reality of financial nihilism — and why so many people today feel disconnected from traditional money advice, long-term planning, and the promise that “doing everything right” will pay off.
We unpack what financial nihilism actually is, why younger generations are increasingly saying “what’s the point?”, and how rising costs, housing inaccessibility, stagnant wages, burnout, and social media distortion have created a perfect storm of distrust around money. We also talk about the emotional toll of being “fine on paper” while feeling anxious underneath, and why reckless spending, over-saving, doom spending, or checking out financially may all stem from the same root issue: uncertainty.
In today’s episode, we discuss:
 What financial nihilism is — and why it’s more common than people think 
 Why many people no longer trust traditional financial milestones like homeownership, retirement, or slow wealth-building 
 How high housing costs, stagnant wages, debt, and economic instability are shaping money beliefs 
 Why some people respond with risky behaviour (crypto, sports betting, speculation) while others respond with hyper-control (over-saving, chronic anxiety, fear of spending) 
 The psychology of “if the future feels broken, the present gets expensive” 
 How financial nihilism can show up even when someone has a stable income, savings, or looks successful on paper 
 The antidote to financial nihilism
Referenced in this episode:
Wubba Lubba Done With Money: The Absurdity of Financial Nihilism (Medium) 
Financial Nihilism research article (Taylor & Francis, 2025) 
 Philosophical perspectives on nihilism and meaning (PhilArchive) 
World Economic Forum article: Gen Z, Financial Nihilism & The Great Wealth Transfer
Yahoo Finance report on the rise of financial nihilism among younger generations
Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!